The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is closed due to heavy ice on the Ohio River. The ferry halted service about 11:30 a.m., CST, today.

Ferry operator Lonnie Lewis says the river is about 75 to 80 percent covered between the banks by a large mass of floating ice. The ice is moving, but the chunks are getting large enough to present a hazard to the ferry.

Lewis says several tow boat pilots that run the Ohio near the ferry crossing have indicated this is the worst ice has been since about 1975.

He expects it will take several days of above freezing weather to allow the ferry to resume operation.

The Cave-In-Rock Ferry connects KY 91 with ILLINOIS Route 1 across the Ohio River between Crittenden County, KY, and Hardin County, IL.

The ferry normally operates from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. central time, 7 days a week. The ferry carries about 500 vehicles across the Ohio River in an average day.

The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is at Ohio River navigation mile point 881.0.

The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is operated by an independent contractor with joint funding from KYTC and Idot through a ferry authority.